Sex workers too demanding

PURWOKERTO, Central Java: After futile persuasions, election officials eventually succumbed to prostitutes' demand that they be allowed to cast their ballots in their brothels sprawling the famed Baturaden tourist resort next month.

They said Wednesday that if they insisted on herding them out of the red-light district it might cause "public unrest".

The 300 or so ladies of ill-repute have fiercely maintained that it would be a waste of time to leave their place of work "simply to cast their vote".

Baturaden Police chief Second Lt. Khozin said Wednesday that the government could agree that the sex workers did not have to return to their home villages on election day.

Khozin said 99 percent of the prostitutes came from outside the Banyumas regency. (45)